OCTA officials are poised at an upcoming Jan. 22 hearing to quietly change a 2006 transportation ballot initiative approved by voters, removing sign off from the County Auditor Controller after he raised questions about lack of strong auditing.
Author Archives: Norberto Santana Jr.
Norberto Santana, Jr. is an experienced investigative reporter, serving as founding publisher and editor-in-chief for Voice of OC, overseeing newsroom, engagement and fundraising operations.
He’s also an award-winning columnist, focusing his efforts on First Amendment issues and local government, being recognized multiple years by the Orange County Press Club as the region’s best columnist.
The LA Press Club has named him a Journalist of the Year (2018) and the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has recognized him as a “Distinguished Journalist.” The California Chicano News Media Association has honored him with a lifetime achievement award and the national News Leaders Association has recognized him for his commitment to diverse staffing and coverage.
Santana is a pioneer in the field of nonprofit news having served on the board of directors for the national trade group for nonprofit newsrooms, the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). He also has served on boards of the national nonprofit advocating investigative journalism, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and the California First Amendment advocacy group, CalAware.
In addition to journalism, Santana also teaches public affairs and investigative journalism as an adjunct faculty professor at Chapman University.
Before founding Voice of OC in 2009, Santana was a lead investigative reporter for the Orange County Register, focusing on county government. He spent nearly two decades covering local governments across Southern California, previously as a staff writer at the San Diego Union Tribune and San Bernardino County Sun.
Santana began his journalistic career as an apprentice reporter with Congressional Quarterly in Washington, D.C. covering daily floor action in the U.S. Congress and followed that up with a stint covering the territorial Senate for the U.S. Virgin Islands Daily News.
Languages spoken: English and Spanish
Posted inCountywide
Santana: Anaheim Offers Key Lessons on How To Clean Up a City Hall
Focusing in the New Year on the reforms that local politicians fought last year offers a roadmap to transparency and change.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Tackling California’s Local News Crisis
California legislators are debating how to best save local news by potentially taxing big tech or steering some advertising dollars from tech platforms to local newsrooms who are bleeding reporters.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santana: Orange County Highlights Need to Confront The Veteran Suicide Crisis
A three-day summit in Irvine and Newport Beach aims at spurring tough conversations about how to support veterans transitioning back into civilian life.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
Santana: Two Weeks After Toxic Navy Hangar Fire, Tustin Feels Abandoned by Gov. Newsom
Residents lambast city, state and federal officials about a lack of communication and evacuation order two weeks after the massive hangar fire broke out – prompting city officials to authorize $7.8 million for asbestos clean up.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
Santana: Could a State Disaster Declaration Help Tustin Neighborhoods Battle Asbestos?
LA Mayor Karen Bass got Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency for the 10 freeway fire almost immediately. In the two weeks since Tustin’s hangar began burning, questions are surfacing over where state officials are – and who should call for them.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
Santana: Tustin Residents Still in the Dark on Asbestos Yard Clean Up
While contractors are starting to work on public areas, private residences still hadn’t seen work as of Monday afternoon. City officials now say crews will soon begin cleaning asbestos from private yards.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
Santana: Tustin To Get Asbestos Clean Up After Hangar Fire Fallout
Immediate warnings are to avoid stirring up gunk in neighborhoods. Asbestos experts are headed to affected neighborhoods within days as the Navy commits $1 million toward clean up efforts.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santana: There’s Asbestos In Debris From Tustin’s Burning Hangar
Officials confirm resident suspicions about the gunk flying into their yards, revealing critical gaps in how public agencies communicate with the public.
Posted inCountywide
Santana: Watering Orange County’s Local News Desert
Voice of OC readers can directly support local accountability reporting this month by joining the national NewsMatch campaign challenging local communities to fundraise for local news amidst mounting efforts to muzzle public debate.
